…. The hypocrisy on view here is truly something to behold… For starters, there is the matter of funding. If there’s been one side pushing for greater resources for the Veterans Administration in the age of austerity these past five years, it hasn’t been the Republicans. It was the much-maligned economic stimulus package of 2009 that included $1 billion for the V.A.

…. many veterans programs — providing mental health services and housing, among other things — were hit hard by the sequestration cuts. And when the Senate was poised to pass a $24 billion bill for federal healthcare an education programs for veterans three months ago, Senate Republicans, led by McConnell, blocked it in a filibuster….

…. Something, it appears, happened around 2003 that caused the rate of traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. military to spike. Now what could that have been? Whatever it was, it happened while Barack Obama was in the Illinois state Senate, giving an obscure speech against invading Iraq. He is now having to reckon with the fallout from that event, as is his responsibility to do as commander in chief. But you’d think that those who had actually played a part in bringing about that event would have enough self-awareness to resist scoring political points off of the years-later fallout. Apparently, though, even that is too much to ask.

…. Yes, President Obama and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki have a lot to answer for since the buck ultimately stops with them. And the president acknowledged his responsibility during his remarks from the press briefing room today. Yet, [Eric] Cantor’s comments are galling when you consider what Congress has and hasn’t done for veterans.

…. In February, Senate Republicans actively thwarted the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014. The $21 billion legislation was supposed to improve health, education and other benefits for veterans. Instead, it failed to get the 60 votes needed to stop a threatened filibuster…..

…. Republicans must cease their empty partisan thundering and “we care more than you do” lectures until they have a track record of support for our veterans that matches their righteous indignation.

The political world’s response to the VA scandal is still taking shape, but at this point, it’s off to an awkward start. For one thing, as Rachel explained on the show last night, much of the recent discussion has characterized chronic problems in providing veterans with the care they need as a new development, which it is not.

What’s more, Jonathan Capehart did a nice job highlighting the awkwardness of Republican rhetoric on the matter….

….. let’s also “get it straight” when it comes to the parties’ record, not just their rhetoric, on veterans’ issues.

Media Matters: When Fox News Shrugged Over A Military Care Scandal (Hint: Bush Was President)

The Obama outrage engines are revving up at Fox News and across the conservative media landscape as conservatives shift, temporarily at least, from Obamacare and Benghazi and set their sights on the unfolding scandal involving backlog waiting lists at Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals.

…. The Fox condemnations have been especially loud, and sweeping. And yes, they’ve been mostly directed at the president.

…. The heated right-wing response stands in stark contrast to the muted coverage Fox News provided for the last major controversy involving failed medical care for returning soldiers….

But back then, of course, George W. Bush was president and back then Fox News wasn’t as interested in the story….

The United States has deployed 80 troops to Chad to augment efforts to find the Nigerian schoolgirls recently taken hostage, the White House announced Wednesday, a significant escalation of Washington’s contribution to a crisis that has created global consternation.

The force, made up largely of Air Force personnel, will conduct surveillance flights and operate drone aircraft but will not participate in ground searches, according to U.S. military officials.

“These personnel will support the operation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft for missions over northern Nigeria and the surrounding area,” the White House said in a statement formally notifying Congress of the deployment. The unit will remain in Chad “until its support resolving the kidnapping is no longer required.”

Representative Nancy Pelosi of California on Wednesday appointed a full slate of senior House Democrats to a special committee investigating the 2012 attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, surprising some in her party by giving legitimacy to an inquiry many had dismissed as a political stunt.

…. By naming members who served on committees that have already investigated the attack, Ms. Pelosi raised the pressure on Representative Trey Gowdy, Republican of South Carolina and the chairman of the special committee.

…The Democrats chosen were Mr. Cummings, who clashed repeatedly over Benghazi with the chairman of the Oversight Committee, Representative Darrell Issa of California; Adam Smith of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee; Adam B. Schiff of California, a member of the Intelligence Committee; Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a decorated and severely wounded combat veteran of the Iraq war; and Linda T. Sánchez of California, the ranking Democrat on the Ethics Committee.

Nancy Pelosi did a smart thing and appointed her full allotment of Democrats to the upcoming Fox News special and general kangaroo festivities regarding Benghazi, Benghazi, BENGHAZI!

I am sorry that all the Alan Grayson fans out there may be disappointed, but it’s not like Elijah Cummings hasn’t been fighting the good fight on this issue for a while now.

The idea of a Democratic boycott of the committee was politically maladroit and pragmatically stupid … Without participating, the Democrats would have been conceding the development of the narrative to the Kangaroo Kaucus not only among the Beltway opinion elite, but out in the country as well.

Brian Beutler: The American Right, Not the ‘Tea Party,’ Is the GOP’s Big Liability

For four years running, the American political class has been mired in a debate over the impact the “Tea Party” and its candidates have had on Republican politics. It started in 2010, when the “Tea Party” may well have cost Republicans the Senate, and came full circle last night when “Tea Party” candidates in Georgia, Kentucky and Oregon lost their primaries to candidates backed by the Republican Party, which has had quite enough thank you.

But the debate has been rendered almost meaningless by the sometimes-lazy, sometimes-opportunistic tendency of its participants to create an identity between the American right and the handful of grassroots organizations and political chop shops that have assumed the “Tea Party” brand. We’ve all succumbed to it, but it has obscured what’s really happening within the conservative movement.

That’s why “Tea Party” groups flinch when Republicans and members of the commentariat blame the “Tea Party” for Todd Akin, and that’s why the Republican victory over the “Tea Party” last night, while real, sounds much bigger than it actually is.

Iran’s president said Thursday an agreement by July on curbing its nuclear program is “very likely” despite a snag in talks last week, but that the deadline might also be extended.

Talks in Vienna stalled last Friday, denting hopes that negotiators could meet a July 20 target. The failure to advance diminished optimism that had been growing since negotiations began Feb. 18 on a comprehensive deal.

The talks involve Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany.

This Thursday, May 22nd, the White House Office of Public Engagement, the United States Postal Service and the Harvey Milk Foundation will host a first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the Harvey Milk Forever Stamp at the White House.

The event will feature remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator Tammy Baldwin, Representative John Lewis, Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman, and other distinguished guests including the Co-Founders of the Harvey Milk Foundation, Stuart Milk and Anne Kronenberg.

Watch live starting at 3:00 p.m. EST at whitehouse.gov/live. If you’re following on social media, the hashtag is #HarveyMilkStamp.

Lordy. I’ve profiled a lot of crazy mofos in my time — I even hit the Mickey Rourke-Nic Cage-Albert Brooks trifecta back in the 1990s — but when it comes to lunacy, give me a true sociopath: a politician.

Try as I might, I’ll never forget Rod Blagojevich assuring me, a few months before his trial and conviction, that he would bedazzle a jury with the truth and be set free. I’ll forever treasure the paper placemat from a 2008 lunch at a Thai joint in Medina, Ohio, upon which wee Dennis Kucinich sketched out a graph to show how he’d win enough votes from Hilary, Obama, and John Edwards to become the Democratic Presidential nominee in 2008.

But — hand to god — I’ve seen nothing close to Christopher James Christie since Richard Nixon waved and ducked into the chopper.

Smartypants: Intelligence community is fighting back on ending the indefinite war

For over two years now I’ve been saying that rather than focusing on drones and Gitmo, liberals should be talking about actually ending the indefinite war. A year ago this week, the President said we should do just that. But as Eli Lake reports, he’s facing some pretty tough opposition on that front from the intelligence community. The title of his article is telling: ‘Over My Dead Body’: Spies Fight Obama Push to Downsize Terror War.

In interviews with many of them, a common theme is sounded: The threat from al Qaeda is rising, but the White House is looking to ratchet down the war against these Islamic extremists.

Lake goes on to dutifully quote many in the intelligence community about why we should still be afraid of “the terrorists” – even if it means ramping up the current furor over Benghazi! and the freak-out about ending the war in Afghanistan. But to get an idea of how the President views all of this, here’s a fascinating exchange.

Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer plans to finance full-fledged political campaigns in at least seven states key to Democratic fortunes in the 2014 midterms and the 2016 presidential race, further cementing his rapid rise as one of the party’s most influential patrons.

The independent efforts run by his super PAC, NextGen Climate, will include television ads, on-the-ground field organizing and get-out-the-vote operations that seek to mobilize voters on the local impacts of climate change. The group plans to highlight issues such as drought in Iowa and the rising cost of flood insurance in Florida. It will also spotlight the climate-change skepticism of GOP Senate and gubernatorial candidates, and the campaign donations they have received from the fossil-fuel industry.

Pope Francis made the religious case for tackling climate change on Wednesday, calling on his fellow Christians to become “Custodians of Creation” and issuing a dire warning about the potentially catastrophic effects of global climate change.

Speaking to a massive crowd in Rome, the first Argentinian pope delivered a short address in which he argued that respect for the “beauty of nature and the grandeur of the cosmos” is a Christian value, noting that failure to care for the planet risks apocalyptic consequences.

“Safeguard Creation,” he said. “Because if we destroy Creation, Creation will destroy us! Never forget this!”

Last night, working on election coverage, I went looking for a copy of Senator Mitch McConnell’s ad in which he showed the wrong basketball team. The Kentucky Republican meant to show players from the University of Kentucky. Instead, McConnell’s ad depicted teammates from arch-rival Duke (of North Carolina) celebrating their 2010 national championship.

The McConnell campaign released that ad in March, and just as quickly pulled it after Kentucky blogger Joe Sonka of Leo Weekly pointed out the error. “Fortunately Leo Weekly’s Joe Sonka was able to grab the video before they pulled it down,” reported Kentucky Sports Radio.

But last week, Joe Sonka got a notice from YouTube that the McConnell campaign has challenged his right to post that clip and thus display the campaign’s error.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk to the Marine One helicopter as they depart the White House May 22, 2011 in Washington, DC en route Europe

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First Lady Michelle Obama meets sixth graders from Willow Springs elementary school in Fairfax, Virginia, during a visit to Decatur House, May 22, 2013

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host a concert honoring singer-songwriter Carole King in the East Room of the White House, May 22, 2013. President Obama presented King with the 2013 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during the event, which was part of the “In Performance at the White House” series (Photo by Pete Souza)

“You’ll find out. I know how I’m going to vote, but I’m not ready to comment on it,” Cuban said, according to the Tennessean newspaper.

But in a moment of candor, Cuban acknowledged his own prejudices.

“I know I’m prejudiced and I know I’m bigoted in a lot of different ways. If I see a black kid in a hoodie on my side of the street, I’ll move to the other side of the street,” Cuban said. “If I see a white guy with a shaved head and tattoos, I’ll move back to the other side of the street. None of us have pure thoughts; we all live in glass houses.”
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I don’t care for Mark Cuban. However, he spoke the truth. The only way to combat fatuous blind bigotry and racism is by speaking the truth and confronting the wicked behavior behind racism.

Denying the truth is worse than racism for it never moves the dialogue FORWARD!

His wiords were being criticized on ESPN this morning for promotibng racism. Instead, I think he was actually telling the truth. He didn’t talk as if he was proud of those feelings, but they are internalizedand how he would react in those situations. He basically said we all have prejudices and these are situations where he does stereotype.

I avoid big burly tattoed guys in leather jackets riding motorcycles. Ironically, my son’s f-i-l is one of those types of guys and he is the gentlest man I know.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t stereotype people based upon one quality or another.

Well I will say this, Lebron James has already said it, if the players feel like the commissioner is doing the right thing, it might time some time, but if the players feel like the right thing is being done, there is no need to talk about a player boycott. But if Mark Cuban and other owners want to protect Donald Sterling and keep him as the owner of the Clippers, then you might have a big mess, because the players will not go for it. So the only color Cuban care about is green and he and the other owners better do the right thing.

Great comment. The NBA is a 90% Black league and having racist owners creates a plantation -type scenario that the league would be wise to avoid. There is an effort afoot to mainstream racism against Black people. I call bullshit on the black kid wearing a hoodie nonsense, these devils fear Black men wearing suits and carrying a briefcase more. PBO followed all the rules, beat them at their own game and they still fear him and see him as the Other. Its never been the hoodie,, it has always been and remains the skin color that creates the unease and mistrust.

If I lived in Cooperstown, that banner would be over my house and I’d be drinking a mint julep on my front porch, holding my Don’t Tread on My Obamacare sticker. Waving. And if the President stopped to speak to me, change “Waving” to “Fainting.”

Damn I always leave out the verb. Anyway, I wanted to respond to how long it takes to arrive. Now we all know President Obama is very very frugal in general but very generous with his family as he should be. So I imagine the bumper stickers went the absolute cheapest way possible which is usually the slowest way possible. I love my President and my O-care. I just wish my card had Obamacare or O-Care on it. Really when I got my card I didn’t recognize it as health coverage because there was no Obamacare. I had planned to keep it as a souvenir of the way back when of major cray cray.

Per the MSM and Rightie media echo chamber yes…..every problem started Jan 20th 2009 and if they have not been solved that is because pres Obama is inept, incompetent, weak, but also tyrannical somehow……Go figure.

I’ve always thought Mark Cuban was an irritating loudmouth, windbag jerk and now, he just proved it yet again.

Suuuuuure….Mark. You’re really coming in contact with the people you described in your gated well off community and suuuuuure, you seem like the type to be taking regular walks on the street and not cruising around in your looks like a million bucks cars.

What utter nonsense.

Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, said Wednesday that Donald Sterling isn’t the only NBA executive who harbors bigoted thoughts. Cuban told attendees at a conference in Nashville, Tenn. that he isn’t ready to say publicly whether he’ll vote to force Sterling to sell the Los Angeles Clippers. “You’ll find out. I know how I’m going to vote, but I’m not ready to comment on it,” Cuban said, according to the Tennessean newspaper. But in a moment of candor, Cuban acknowledged his own prejudices.

“I know I’m prejudiced and I know I’m bigoted in a lot of different ways. If I see a black kid in a hoodie on my side of the street, I’ll move to the other side of the street,” Cuban said. “If I see a white guy with a shaved head and tattoos, I’ll move back to the other side of the street. None of us have pure thoughts; we all live in glass houses.” After a recording surfaced last month of Sterling making racist comments to his girlfriend, Cuban initially expressed reluctance about ousting the longtime Clippers owner. “I think you’ve got to be very, very careful when you start making blanket statements about what people say and think, as opposed to what they do,” Cuban said at the time. “It’s a very, very slippery slope.”

So is Cuban trying to let us know that the racists owners want to keep Donald Sterling. As I said the players will not stand for it. So Cuban and the owners can do what is right or protect their racists rich owners and thoughts.

Heres my issue with this BS.. First of all, we are not all bigots, and I really take issue with folks who cover their own bigoted/racist thinking/actions by including all of the rest of humanity. Hogwash. Also… all well and good to admit you’re a ‘bigot’.. but what’re you going to do about it? How are you going to change it, how are you becoming more enlightened? Maybe this is a first step, but that is not the vibe I’m getting. I’m getting the feeling, that he’s just taking a side- Sterling’s, in essence.. and that’s where his “honesty” begins and ends.

Fantastic point, sherijr. A lot of people don’t cross the street when they see a black kid with a hoodie. What’s scary about that?! Just like a lot of people don’t freak out at the sight of tattoos. Tattoos are a dime a dozen these days. He is the bigot and it is disgusting that he tries to excuse his bigotry and prejudice by painting all of humanity with the same gross brush.

He was the same person who came out to defend Donald Sterling’s abhorrent remarks and behavior by using the Fox News argument of “it’s a slippery slope if we punish wealthy people for speaking so candidly.” What nonsense. You can say whatever the heck you want, but as a person in the position Donald Sterling is, you’d better be prepared for the consequences.

The other glaring crap in Cuban’s statement is that he knows damn well he would not cross the street to go back to the black kid in a hoodie to avoid the white guy with tattoos. He knows that and it is telling he tries to lump the two in the same category. He’ll make millions from his black players but OMG…a black kid in a hoodie is dangerous!

They are trying to mainstream racism against Black people. The hoodie canard is bullshit. White kids copy the way Black kids dress and yet somehow are not viewed as a threat. They are looking for excuses for their racism.

I like that phrase Eric- “They are trying to mainstream racism against Black people.”

Exactly- that whole “everybody does it” crap… therefore we need to sympathize with the bigot- is bull pucky, and in fact just another escape from the consequences. When these people put their thoughts into Actions/words they need to know that their are consequences that fit their radical and inappropriate behavior- that we do not all do it and we do not all condone it. period.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Americans would no longer get mail delivered to their door but would have to go to communal or curbside boxes instead under a proposal advancing through Congress.

The Republican-controlled House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on an 18-13 party-line vote, approved a bill Wednesday to direct the U.S. Postal Service to convert 15 million addresses over the next decade to the less costly, but also less convenient delivery method.

Democrats objected to the plan, and efforts in recent years to win its adoption have failed. “I think it’s a lousy idea,” Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., said. Other lawmakers said it wouldn’t work in urban areas where there’s no place on city streets to put banks of “cluster boxes” with separate compartments for each address. People with disabilities who have difficulty leaving their homes could get waivers, and people who still want delivery to their door could pay extra for it — something Lynch derided as “a delivery tax.”

Fox News distanced itself from anchor Gregg Jarrett, who was briefly jailed Wednesday after an incident at a Minneapolis airport bar.

“We were made aware late last night that Gregg Jarrett was arrested in Minneapolis yesterday and charged with a misdemeanor,” a Fox News spokesperson told TVNewser. “He is dealing with serious personal issues at this time. A date at which Gregg might return to air has yet to be determined.”

I see Pres Obama’s decided, “to hell with diabolical Washington, I’mma create wonderful memories for the American people for the rest of my presidency. Get out among the people as much as I can, and let history be the judge”

The great beauty of it all is that Mark Cuban is talking. Just like POTUS said some few weeks ago, paraphrasing of course, just let them TALK!

People have ears and brains and they are listening and processing his words. That is how problems are solved.

I would rather know what one thinks than speculate what is on his/her mind. Knowledge is powerful. With dialogue, bigots and racists are known and people of goodwill will naturally isolate or help educated the ignorant, bad apples and the conflicted misguided fools.

Online marketplace eBay is facing questions over its handling of a hack attack that exposed millions of passwords and other data.

A promised feature obliging members to reset passwords when they next logged in has not yet been made available.

Instead the auction site has added a notice to its homepage, simply recommending users update passwords “as a first step”.

Security experts said its reaction raised “serious questions”.

…

Many of its users were angry about how slowly the firm had dealt with the problem.

“Just wondering why I’m hearing this from BBC before eBay,” said one reader of the BBC website.

Alan Woodward, an independent security consultant, was also unimpressed.

“It shouldn’t take this long to have something in place that forces users to change their passwords, and it should have let people know what was happening – it doesn’t take much time to send an email out for goodness sake,”

yep and funny thing is that someone here posted about eBay’s being hacked the day before yesterday- or it may have been yesterday… and I didn’t find out from ebay until I went to their site this morning.. and I am currently selling items on ebay.. yet no email or anything notifying us of this breach.